I Checked out this FTO average condition but attractive price with about 140,000 kms. My dilemma is this, I checked with vicroad and was told this car was a "unrepairable damage"(a write-off) car!! The owner told me he bought this car from a car auction place(insurance company auction i guess) with only the front damaged, which is front bumper bar, radiator and head light, that's all. I have inspected this car and all panels and colour is matched, inline and aligned except the bumper, and headlight. So this part of it is true.
My question is could it be possible that because FTO is an imported vehicle, the parts are expensive and hard to source, so the insurance company would rather auction the car under"unrepairable damage" to recover lost than repair it???? or the owner is not being honest and hide other damage?
please help, Should I buy?
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mivecboy
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dstocks
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Dont Touch It
Dont Touch It with a barge pole. Very likely shouldnt be registerable. Find another one! At the very least, check into VIC's rules re registration of a vehicle after write off.
[edit] You used to be able to do this kind of stuff all the time. The rules were tightened a lot a few years ago and it is harder to do it legally now. The reason I know this is because I have owned 2 FTO's. My first was an insurance write off that was able to be repaired (before rules tightened). The bloke I bought it off was actually a dealer. I had a good chat to him at the time and he told me how it worked. If the car has been damaged thats cool, your OK. If it has been written off, it may not be able to be legally registered again.
Additionally, while I got my first FTO cheap and paid to have it fixed, the front headlight never quite sat right. In the end I was faced with putting it on a rack to get straightened, or buying a new one. I went for the second option (and looking back am glad).
On top of this, ACT rego (not sure whether other states do this too) put all grey imports through a UV light test. This allows them to determine whether any bits have been cut and joined/stolen etc. Apparently there are hidden chassis codes all over the underneath of the car and they can tell when its been screwed with.
At the least, buy one without a dubious history. Cause you less grief all round. I know youre trying to save some cash, but as good as this may look, it will cost you more than you think.[/edit]
[edit] You used to be able to do this kind of stuff all the time. The rules were tightened a lot a few years ago and it is harder to do it legally now. The reason I know this is because I have owned 2 FTO's. My first was an insurance write off that was able to be repaired (before rules tightened). The bloke I bought it off was actually a dealer. I had a good chat to him at the time and he told me how it worked. If the car has been damaged thats cool, your OK. If it has been written off, it may not be able to be legally registered again.
Additionally, while I got my first FTO cheap and paid to have it fixed, the front headlight never quite sat right. In the end I was faced with putting it on a rack to get straightened, or buying a new one. I went for the second option (and looking back am glad).
On top of this, ACT rego (not sure whether other states do this too) put all grey imports through a UV light test. This allows them to determine whether any bits have been cut and joined/stolen etc. Apparently there are hidden chassis codes all over the underneath of the car and they can tell when its been screwed with.
At the least, buy one without a dubious history. Cause you less grief all round. I know youre trying to save some cash, but as good as this may look, it will cost you more than you think.[/edit]
Last edited by dstocks on Sat Jan 21, 2006 2:18 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Complete FTO (http://www.completefto.com.au/completefto.asp) 
If you are trying to contact me and not getting a quick answer, its because im disorganised. Hassle me and ill get back to you
If you are trying to contact me and not getting a quick answer, its because im disorganised. Hassle me and ill get back to you
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mivecboy
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this is what i found from vicroad:
"Repairable write-off
A vehicle will be recorded as a repairable write-off if the salvage value plus the cost of repairing the vehicle is more than the market value."
http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/VRNE/vrn ... 28F2E?open
But what if the mechanic has done a good job of fixing it? Because the car would have to pass the test and inspection by vicroad before re-registration. The car does look pretty damn good given it was written-off. Is it still safe to buy?
"Repairable write-off
A vehicle will be recorded as a repairable write-off if the salvage value plus the cost of repairing the vehicle is more than the market value."
http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/VRNE/vrn ... 28F2E?open
But what if the mechanic has done a good job of fixing it? Because the car would have to pass the test and inspection by vicroad before re-registration. The car does look pretty damn good given it was written-off. Is it still safe to buy?
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Bennoz
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I also wouldn't touch it...
You'll be forever a marked man by VIC roads. A lot of guys have had plenty of greif with them on this forum. Not only that, FTO's that have been pranged before are extremely hard to be pulled straight again.
You'll never get it wheel aligned.
Kepp looking, keep posting up what you find, we'll let you know if you've found a good one
You'll be forever a marked man by VIC roads. A lot of guys have had plenty of greif with them on this forum. Not only that, FTO's that have been pranged before are extremely hard to be pulled straight again.
You'll never get it wheel aligned.
Kepp looking, keep posting up what you find, we'll let you know if you've found a good one
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SchumieFan
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